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by Laura Schofer
What do students want and need? That depends on who you ask, as Richard Mills, the state commissioner of education, discovered when he paid a visit to Freeport High School last week. About 21 students met with the commissioner, state Board of Regents member Roger Tilles, state Senator Charles Fuschillo and Assemblyman Dave McDonough in a round-table discussion.
While Commissioner Mills talked about higher standards and more emphasis on science and math, the students spoke about offering a wider variety of elective courses that would give them real-life experience.
They wanted to see more vocational programs and academic programs that were neither "too easy or too har4" said one student. "The Regents are too easy and sometimes honor students feel weird in a Regents class. We need something in between," she said.
One student noted that "we have
immigrant students here who can't afford to take the AP classes. They don't have the money to pay for the exams."
Kimberlee Pierre, principal of Freeport High School, told Mr. Mills that "we are looking to increase vocational programs and have more access to BOCES programs. We have also been looking at additional programs that are credit-bearing, including programs taken after school hours or on Saturdays."
"Should we settle for vocational programs or push for higher standards?" asked Senator Fuschillo.
"Not everyone is made for school," said one girl. "Why not learn a trade?"
"Some work very hard and just don't get it," said another girl.
"But there just aren't any low-level jobs. We need [people with a] high level of competency in math and literacy," said the commissioner. He added that there was a need for math
teachers and urged the students to explore that field. But most resisted. Several students said they wanted to be elementary school teachers, not math teachers. "They [the young students] are not corrupted," said one boy. "Who wants to teach teenagers our age?
We don't listen."
Raising graduation rates
Ms. Pierre said that the graduation rate at Freeport High School was 67 percent.
"What about the other third?" asked Commissioner Mills.
(continued on page 14)
Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | The-Leader_2006-03-30 |
| Subject | Newspaper |
| Description | This is a Newspaper distributed locally within the Village of Freeport and Baldwin. |
| Creator | Linda Toscano |
| Publisher | L & M Publications, Inc. |
| Contributors | Scanned by Imaging & Microfilm Access, Inc. (Bohemia, NY 11716) |
| Date | 2006 |
| Type | Periodical |
| Format | PDF; TIFF |
| Source | Freeport Memorial Library |
| Language | English |
| Coverage | United States |
| Rights | This digital image may be freely used for educational uses, as long as it is not altered in any way. No commercial reproduction or distribution of this image is permitted without written permission of the Freeport Memorial Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport, NY 11520 or email: frreference@freeportlibrary.info |
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